Engineering Beyond the Double Bind: Women of Color in Engineering Education and Careers

本工程教育研究项目旨在为促进和阻碍非裔美国人、拉丁裔美国人、印第安人和亚裔美国人女性在本科和早期职业阶段从事工程的因素的现有知识库做出重大贡献；并加强对有希望的因素的理解，这些因素可以降低进入工程教育项目和通过工程教育项目的障碍，并使途径多样化。目前，工程领域的有色人种女性在工程劳动力中的比例严重低于她们在美国人口中的比例，但人们对她们的教育或早期职业经历知之甚少，也不知道这些经历是如何导致她们从工程领域流失或留在工程领域的。该项目有三个方面：(I)综合过去15年对工程教育中有色人种女性的实证研究；（II）分析75篇有色人种女性在工程教育和早期职业生涯中的叙事（生活故事）；（III）对24名有色人种女性本科生和她们在航空航天、土木和机械工程等代表性最不足的子领域的早期专业人士进行访谈研究。通过更系统和全面地了解工程教育和早期职业生涯中对有色人种年轻女性的帮助和伤害，该项目的研究结果将切实指导教育工作者和雇主如何使他们的STEM环境多样化，从而培养更广泛的国内人才基础。目前的研究表明，不同的群体？独特的背景、观点和经验有可能为STEM领域的发现和创新带来巨大的新方法。因此，这个项目更广泛的意义和重要性在于它将如何帮助工程多样化，从而加强美国？作为世界科学领导者的地位。

This engineering education research project aims to significantly contribute to the existing knowledge base about factors that promote and hinder African American, Latina, Native American, and Asian American women in engineering at the undergraduate and early career levels; and to enhance the understanding of promising elements that lower barriers and diversify pathways to, and through, engineering education programs and beyond. Currently, women of color in engineering are severely underrepresented in the engineering workforce relative to their representation in the U.S. population, yet little is known about their educational or early career experiences or how these experiences contribute to their attrition from, or retention in, engineering. The project has three tracks:(I) a synthesis of empirical research from the last 15 years on women of color in engineering education; (II) analysis of 75 narratives (life stories) by or about women of color in engineering education and early careers; and (III) an interview study of 24 women of color undergraduates and early professionals in subfields in which they are most underrepresented: aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering.By producing a more systematic and comprehensive understanding about what helps and hurts young women of color in engineering education and early careers, findings from this project will practically guide educators and employers on how to diversify their STEM settings and thus cultivate a broader base of domestic talent. Current research suggests that diverse groups? unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences have potential to bring dramatically new approaches to discovery and innovation within STEM. Thus, the broader significance and importance of this project arises from how it will help to diversify engineering and thus strengthen the United States? position as a scientific world leader.